There was a change of king in Las Vegas. On a night that will go down in UFC history, Merab Dvalishvili (18-4) dazzled the Sphere by completely dominating Sean O'Malley (18-2). With absolute control from the first moment, 'The Machine' imposed himself with takedowns and constant pressure, leaving O'Malley powerless in the octagon. With this victory, Merab becomes the second Georgian champion in the current UFC, alongside his great friend Ilia Topuria .
Total dominance in the Sphere
There was no room for doubt in the Sphere. The colors of the Georgian flag filled the arena as Merab executed to perfection the plan he had previously announced. After the fight, in a brief interview with Joe Rogan, Merab confirmed what was seen in the Octagon: total domination . For his part, O'Malley, visibly affected by the defeat, left the arena before answering post-fight questions.
The return of Jon Jones
But that wasn't the only shocking news of the night. During the event, the UFC also announced the long-awaited return of Jon Jones , adding more excitement to an already historic card in Las Vegas.
Change of queen in women's flyweight
Another key moment of the evening was the change of champion in the women's flyweight division . Former champion Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1) returned to the top by defeating Alexa Grasso and regaining the belt she had lost. Shevchenko was forceful, completely controlling Grasso on the ground, not allowing her any real options to counterattack. The frustrated Mexican was unable to reverse the Kyrgyz fighter's dominance.
Diego Lopes and his message for Ilia Topuria
The night also featured a standout performance from Diego Lopes , who convincingly defeated Brian Ortega (26-6). Although he didn't mention it directly, his impressive victory made it clear that his meteoric rise places him as a serious title contender at featherweight. "My name is on the table to fight for the title later on," Lopes said.
Raul Rosas Jr. continues to climb
In the preliminary fights, young prodigy Raul Rosas Jr. (10-1), nicknamed 'The Problem Kid', continued his upward path by defeating Aoriqileng, thus adding his fourth victory in the UFC at just 19 years old. Although it was not a spectacular fight, Rosas Jr. showed control and maturity in his approach.
An unforgettable war: Cháirez vs Joshua Van
One of the most exciting moments of the night came in the second round of the first preliminary fight, an epic battle between Cháirez and Joshua Van (11-2). In a fight that will be remembered as one of the best of the year, Van managed to win by unanimous decision after a real war in the octagon.
Latin show: Bahamondes and Ribovics shine
The night also featured spectacular performances by Latin American fighters. Chilean Ignacio 'La Jaula' Bahamondes (16-5) knocked out 'Loco' Torres in the first round with a brutal striking , while Belal Muhammad, present in his corner, celebrated effusively. Likewise, Argentine Esteban Ribovics (14-1) took a memorable victory against Zellhuber in a fight full of explosive exchanges.
All in all, UFC 306 was a night full of great moments and memorable performances that will go down in the history of the sport. From the rise of Merab Dvalishvili to the brilliant victory of Valentina Shevchenko, it was a card that lived up to the greatness of the Octagon.
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